kelvincheu
Member
Has anyone tried this on CX-5? Does it make a difference?
Techron fuel system cleaner
- Thread starter kelvincheu
- Start date
If you are talking about dumping one of the bottles of injector cleaner directly in the fuel tank, just keep in mind that the manual specifically recommends against that.
In any case, if you consider the cost of the occasional bottle, I'd say you are better off buying high octane gasoline giving the same end result.
In any case, if you consider the cost of the occasional bottle, I'd say you are better off buying high octane gasoline giving the same end result.
A very good cleaner IF you are having issues with dirty injectors or combustion chamber. To use it "Just to Use it" is not a good idea in my opinion. Chevron gas contains Techron in maintance dose levels. ALL octane levels of "Top Tier" gas contains top-end engine cleaner. Ed
Those cleaners you dump in the tank help out engines with multi-port fuel injection but do nothing for engines with direct fuel injection like the Skyactiv engines. The reason is with MPFI the injector is placed just before the intake valve and so when the fuel sprays it cleans the back of the valve. With Direct injection the injector is inside the combustion chamber so you loose this benefit. I suppose it might help clean the top of the piston but so do the detergents that are already in the fuel.
Very good point.
I guess the detergent can only clean the injector and combustion chamber, not the intake valve. Also, looking at the manual I did not find any recommendation for Top Tier Gas. As an owner, I would have expected a mention if this is what Mazda recommends.
For DI engines, I've heard of concerns about carbon build-up on valves and downstream systems but don't see how a detergent can clean any of this. It might be worth while to get a gasoline with detergent for the sake of the injector alone, but I am not sure.
Here in CA, different rules are imposed on refineries on how to produce gasoline and there are only a handful of refineries which do that. So, other than detergent and possibly stale gasoline I am skeptical that gas station A will have better gas than gas station B, especially if they get the same amount of business. Perhaps I don't understand enough what 'quality gasoline' means.
With our other cars (non of which are/were DI), I've always looked for a gas station which has high turnout and low prices. We never had problems related to the fuel system, but it is true that we also typically don't keep cars beyond 100K.
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Chris_Top_Her
Contributor
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- San Antonio, Texas
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- '15 CX-5 Miata AWD
Well, I wouldn't expect Mazda to be endorsing a brand of gas (unless they were getting paid). My ford escape manual mentioned BP gas lol.
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- Mazdaspeed6
Gas additives are mostly detergents, but they're also gumming inhibitors, and they've got properties which extends the shelf/storage life of gasoline as well.
When you fill with unbranded, and fill at grocers, Costco, Wal-Mart, etc., you're getting a "generic" additive, which essentially only meets government mandate in regards to what's required out of a gasoline additive, and it is injected only sligthly above the mandated LAC (lowest allowable concentration).
So, even though GDI loses out on alot of the detergent benefits, buying branded gas may improve the longevity of other components, by preventing gumming in areas such as the low and high pressure fuel pumps, and possibly even the injectors themselves. Though, I'll bet it is significantly less of a concern, seeing as the fuel rail pressures are in excess of 1500-1800 PSI.
Shell injects significantly more of their proprietary additive into their mid and super than anybody else, and double the rate of unbranded, generic gasoline. Often times, the blendstock/basestock is the same stuff, and it's just the additive which brands the gasoline.
As far as using a store bought bottle of these additives...meh. I think it's likely far less advantageous than just continuously using good, branded gas, and even less so on a GDI engine.
When you fill with unbranded, and fill at grocers, Costco, Wal-Mart, etc., you're getting a "generic" additive, which essentially only meets government mandate in regards to what's required out of a gasoline additive, and it is injected only sligthly above the mandated LAC (lowest allowable concentration).
So, even though GDI loses out on alot of the detergent benefits, buying branded gas may improve the longevity of other components, by preventing gumming in areas such as the low and high pressure fuel pumps, and possibly even the injectors themselves. Though, I'll bet it is significantly less of a concern, seeing as the fuel rail pressures are in excess of 1500-1800 PSI.
Shell injects significantly more of their proprietary additive into their mid and super than anybody else, and double the rate of unbranded, generic gasoline. Often times, the blendstock/basestock is the same stuff, and it's just the additive which brands the gasoline.
As far as using a store bought bottle of these additives...meh. I think it's likely far less advantageous than just continuously using good, branded gas, and even less so on a GDI engine.
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I always use Costco gas ($3.62 today vs cheapest Chevron $3.76) because it's so cheap compared to elsewhere, and it's right near work.
Having read that they don't have as much additive as Chevron or Shell, I plan on using Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner every 3000 miles. These were about $11 for a 6 pack at Costco with coupon, so it's pretty cheap.
Having read that they don't have as much additive as Chevron or Shell, I plan on using Techron Fuel Injector Cleaner every 3000 miles. These were about $11 for a 6 pack at Costco with coupon, so it's pretty cheap.
Based on what Iheartgroceries said above (he actually works in that industry), my preference is to continue to use only Chevron gasoline and skip the additives. The difference of $0.14/gallon driving a economical CX-5 15K miles/year is low.
Also another good reason is spelled out in the 2013 CX-5 owners manual:
"Never add fuel system additives. Otherwise, the emission control system could be
damaged. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer for details."
Also another good reason is spelled out in the 2013 CX-5 owners manual:
"Never add fuel system additives. Otherwise, the emission control system could be
damaged. Consult an Authorized Mazda Dealer for details."
From Costco website:
Types of Fuel and Fuel QualityQ: Is Costco TOP TIER™ certified?A: Yes. Both grades of gasoline sold at Costco meet and exceed TOP TIER™ requirements. The owners' manuals provided by the following manufacturers recommend using TOP TIER™ gasoline to maintain optimal engine performance and efficiency.
•BMW, including Mini Cooper and Rolls-Royce
•General Motors, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC
•Honda, including Acura
•Toyota, including Lexus and Scion
•Volkswagen/Audi, including Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley
•Mercedes-Benz, including Smart
Q: How does Costco assure their gasoline is high quality?A: There are two aspects of fuel quality that depend on the gasoline brand and the individual retailer: deposit control additives and station maintenance.
Deposit control additives
Since 1995, Federal regulations mandate that all gasoline contain an EPA-approved deposit control additive. These additives are designed to minimize engine deposits that can affect vehicle performance and emissions. The various proprietary deposit control additive formulations are the main difference between brands of gasoline. All Costco gasoline, both regular and premium unleaded, contains deposit control additives. As of March 2014, all Costco gasoline meets and exceeds TOP TIER™ requirements (www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html). With five times the EPA required amount of additives in our gas, we are proud to call it Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline.
Station Maintenance
Good station operation and maintenance means the fuel is filtered and that contaminants, such as sediment and water, do not find their way into our members' vehicles. Costco gas stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the gasoline going into your car is clean.
•Costco uses fuel filters to catch particles or debris larger than 10 microns in diameter. For comparison, the average human hair is seventy microns thick.
•Our attendants check the nozzle flow rate frequently to assure that our filters are fresh. When the flow rate falls below 8 gallons per minute, we change the filter.
•Costco uses ethanol-compatible filters designed to catch sediment, water, or phase-separated ethanol and water mixtures.
•Costco's electronic sensors continuously monitor our underground storage tanks for water.
•We physically inspect and take chemical samples of our tanks at least weekly to confirm there is no contamination.
Q: What happened to "Clean Power"?A: Although we originally referred to our gasoline additives as Clean Power, we determined that Kirkland Signature™ best describes the high quality and great value of our gasoline. Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline: same quality product, much simpler name.
Types of Fuel and Fuel QualityQ: Is Costco TOP TIER™ certified?A: Yes. Both grades of gasoline sold at Costco meet and exceed TOP TIER™ requirements. The owners' manuals provided by the following manufacturers recommend using TOP TIER™ gasoline to maintain optimal engine performance and efficiency.
•BMW, including Mini Cooper and Rolls-Royce
•General Motors, including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC
•Honda, including Acura
•Toyota, including Lexus and Scion
•Volkswagen/Audi, including Porsche, Lamborghini, and Bentley
•Mercedes-Benz, including Smart
Q: How does Costco assure their gasoline is high quality?A: There are two aspects of fuel quality that depend on the gasoline brand and the individual retailer: deposit control additives and station maintenance.
Deposit control additives
Since 1995, Federal regulations mandate that all gasoline contain an EPA-approved deposit control additive. These additives are designed to minimize engine deposits that can affect vehicle performance and emissions. The various proprietary deposit control additive formulations are the main difference between brands of gasoline. All Costco gasoline, both regular and premium unleaded, contains deposit control additives. As of March 2014, all Costco gasoline meets and exceeds TOP TIER™ requirements (www.toptiergas.com/retailers.html). With five times the EPA required amount of additives in our gas, we are proud to call it Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline.
Station Maintenance
Good station operation and maintenance means the fuel is filtered and that contaminants, such as sediment and water, do not find their way into our members' vehicles. Costco gas stations are well-maintained by our capable attendants so you may be confident that the gasoline going into your car is clean.
•Costco uses fuel filters to catch particles or debris larger than 10 microns in diameter. For comparison, the average human hair is seventy microns thick.
•Our attendants check the nozzle flow rate frequently to assure that our filters are fresh. When the flow rate falls below 8 gallons per minute, we change the filter.
•Costco uses ethanol-compatible filters designed to catch sediment, water, or phase-separated ethanol and water mixtures.
•Costco's electronic sensors continuously monitor our underground storage tanks for water.
•We physically inspect and take chemical samples of our tanks at least weekly to confirm there is no contamination.
Q: What happened to "Clean Power"?A: Although we originally referred to our gasoline additives as Clean Power, we determined that Kirkland Signature™ best describes the high quality and great value of our gasoline. Kirkland Signature™ Gasoline: same quality product, much simpler name.
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- Mazdaspeed6
THIS (bold text above) is what's important. This is an easy selling point. This goes back to my chief observation when selecting a filling station/brand - target a retail filling station which is well maintained and maintains high throughput. Alot of newer stations utilize similar methods to ensure product quality, however. So, this isn't revolutionary. But, if it is standardized across all of their retail stores, that's a strong selling point.
The potential for contamination is really at its greatest in transportation (between custodian and consignee), delivery and storage at the retail stations.
Here's what cracks me up - 5X more additive than the EPA minimum.
The EPA minimum is something like 0.08 gallons of additive per 1000 gallons gasoline. Of course, target rates are well beyond this, to ensure a healthy level of cushion...
So that's what's funny - To say 5X above the minimum. Well, that's really on par with any of the other "Top Tier" retail providers. Granted, Costco's rate is absolutely at a rate way higher than unbranded.
By all accounts, Costco is perfectly good gasoline, and likely ranks among many of the other branded gases.
Don't do this...! High octane fuel is the same as low octane fuel except for MORE additives (wax) to slow it from combusting too quickly in a high-compression engine. Adding high octane fuel to the CX5 engine will, over time, create more problems. Use only the octane rating Mazda says to use.
^^^ This...and never put in bottled products into your fuel tank. Your fuel tank should only have fuel in it, nothing else!
What an absolute load of tosh. The manual specifically states 87 or above, and if you knew anything about fuel chemistry at all, then you would realise how silly the 'wax' notion is.
I'm deadly serious, you are full of sticky brown stuff if you think that high octane fuel will cause problems because it contains 'wax'.
Consider that outside North America the CX-5 runs a higher compression, and thus absolutely requires high octane fuel. Are you seriously telling us that is going to cause problems for all of those CX-5 in the rest of the world, but somehow ours will be spared if only we use lower octane fuel?
Octane is an alkane, hence the -ane at the end. Alkanes are also known as paraffins.
http://www.petroleum.co.uk/alkane-chemistry
"Paraffin wax is a white or colorless soft solid derivable from petroleum"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraffin_wax
There is also petroleum in American cheese. But we won't get into that.
Beefy, I suggest you read up on Skyactiv and its design. I will summarize by saying it is specifically designed to use low octane fuel. Using higher octane doesn't necessarily mean the higher octane fuel will burn completely because it is under high compression. Read Mazda's own information regarding the concepts they've introduced to use lower octane fuel in a high-compression engine. If higher octane fuel is used and not experiencing complete combustion, the residue will begin to accumulate over time causing problems. These problems may materialize or may not but to me it is illogical to spend $0.40USD more per gallon to potentially create problems down the road. Obviously you like doing these things...and you're more than welcome to.
I'll also say you're quite rude, so you should continue this discussion with someone else who cares to listen to you.
http://www.petroleum.co.uk/alkane-chemistry
"Paraffin wax is a white or colorless soft solid derivable from petroleum"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraffin_wax
There is also petroleum in American cheese. But we won't get into that.
Beefy, I suggest you read up on Skyactiv and its design. I will summarize by saying it is specifically designed to use low octane fuel. Using higher octane doesn't necessarily mean the higher octane fuel will burn completely because it is under high compression. Read Mazda's own information regarding the concepts they've introduced to use lower octane fuel in a high-compression engine. If higher octane fuel is used and not experiencing complete combustion, the residue will begin to accumulate over time causing problems. These problems may materialize or may not but to me it is illogical to spend $0.40USD more per gallon to potentially create problems down the road. Obviously you like doing these things...and you're more than welcome to.
I'll also say you're quite rude, so you should continue this discussion with someone else who cares to listen to you.
